Curated Brain Snacks

I Hate Running And You Can Too By Brendan Leonard

New York: Artisan Books, 2021

Master satirist Brendan Leonard has done it again. He’s managed to turn Type 2 fun (fun in retrospect) into, well, fun actually. As a climber and writer, Leonard is fit and enjoys the outdoors, but he never imagined himself to be a runner. Then, in a bizarre turn of events, he decided to commit to 52 marathon runs in a single year. Not exactly setting himself up for success, he learned a lot along the way, and I Hate Running and You Can Too is the resulting manifesto.

Leonard lets us know right off the top that despite the miles he’s put in, he’s actually a pretty average athlete at best. Through sharing his own experiences with blunt honesty and humour, the reader not only connects with his writing, but will catch themselves giggling the whole way through this book. His experiences of pain and failure and

SPOTLIGHT ON ART - OESA MAGAZINE

In 2020, a series of events led Oesa Magazine creator Amal Alhomsi to the realization that Bow Valley artists need help. He met artists in precarious living situations: propane tanks next to pillows, painters working in closets, their lives “a labyrinth of entangled idiosyncrasies”, says Alhomsi. It became obvious to him two things were missing in the valley: a physical space where artists can create, and a virtual platform where artists can share what they create—enter Oesa Magazine

Alhomsi’s goal is to have the magazine act as an archive for the artists that make the Bow Valley their home temporarily or permanently.

“The word Oesa is Stoney for ‘corner’, and that is what the magazine is all about,” he says, “a corner for the arts.” www.oesa-magazine.com. fleeting moments of reason which suggest that sitting on the couch eating potato chips really is more fun than running, will remind you a lot of someone else: you. The thoughts that have cycled through my head while habitually, yet infrequently, taking up running over the years are perfectly captured here, and, on occasion, made to seem like actual scientific evidence.

By partnering with the Town of Banff, Alhomsi and his team provide artists with free studio space, and they’ve also created an accessible website featuring work from talent around the valley.

The book is loaded with valuable data nestled between the outrageous, rollicking anecdotes. There are graphs, pie charts and tables like the always helpful “Fear Based Fitness Plan” all of which are presented with semi-professional, tongue-in-cheek prowess. You can’t help but smile as you dive into chapters with titles such as: “Inspiration is Not a Strategy” and “F#%k Busy”. The book acts as your quasi-guide, encouraging you to start small, but start you must because what have you got to lose?

Although seemingly lacking in seriousness, this book is designed to make you consider your own self-actualization gauge, and leads you on the familiar path to discovering that of course, taking the first step is the hardest part. Written for anyone who’s ever considering running, it appeals to the hardcore and armchair athlete alike. Read I Hate Running and You Can Too, and you’ll be motivated to dust off those old Nikes and plod along with a smile on your face. –Joanna

Croston

LUNA FESTIVAL, REVELSTOKE

Revelstoke’s LUNA Art Festival presents a weekend of Nocturnal Art + Wonder across downtown Revelstoke. The festival is a visual smorgasbord of art and energy in two parts: LUNA Sound, a +18 “wild night” of music that kicks off the weekend Friday, September 22; and LUNA Arts the evening of Saturday, September 23, which is free and open to all ages.

LUNA Arts is chock-full of interactive performances, installation art and “art allery” discoveries throughout Revelstoke’s downtown core. The weekend will wrap up at the Revelstoke Rail Museum on Sunday September 24 with a day of music, art and fun for the whole family.

Youth Spirit

Calgary’s Maya Carr was the 2022 recipient of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s Mountain Spirit Award, presented each year to a young Canadian blazing a trail in environmental protection and advocacy.

Introduced to wild places by her outdoorsy parents, Maya and her younger brother spent their childhood at the family cabin in Nakusp—cliff jumping and kayaking, hiking and snowmobiling.

Maya considers hiking the Elbow Watershed with the Canadian Rockies Youth Network (CRYN) the kickstarter to her environmental advocacy. In March, the CRYN hosted 38 youth and four adults from across western Canada at the Rockies Youth Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, with the theme: Growing Impactful Voices, highlighting the importance of the opinions of our youth.

Maya also volunteers for Parks Canada, started a studentled environment club at school, and attended Girls on Ice in 2022, an organization that provides space for women to lead using science, art and adventure. This fall she’ll kickstart another objective when she moves on to environmental studies at the University of Alberta.

Canmore Folk Festival

The 45th annual Canmore Folk Festival takes place August 5-7 in the heart of the picturesque mountain town and features headliner Serena Ryder accompanied by a plethora of talent both domestic and international. As always, the festival needs volunteers, so if you’re into a free weekend pass, backstage access and afterparties, check out www.canmorefolkfestival.com and sign up to lend a hand.

CANADIAN ROCKIES TRAIL GUIDE - NEW EDITION

A new edition of the classic, Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, is available and better than ever. This edition of the bestseller is in full colour including topo maps and is 200 grams lighter than past editions. Affectionately referred to as “the Bible” the guide has been in print since 1971 and details 225 hikes. Get your copy at www.summerthought.com.

Disturbance And Renewal

Prescribed burns are becoming more common each year as parks staff work to control the wildfire threat posed to mountain communities. Revelstoke local, Zoya Lynch, explores the effects of these burns on bighorn sheep in her mini-doc available on You Tube: Using prescribed fire to restore bighorn sheep habitat in Kootenay National Park.

Safeguarding A Vanishing Language

In an effort to save the endangered Stoney language, the written word is being used for the first time to preserve the oral language. The education authority of the Stoney Nakoda Nation of southwestern Alberta recently introduced a textbook and dictionary to schools on the Nation where Stoney remains the first language for the majority of members. The Nation has also created a podcast featuring stories from Elders at www.stoneynakoda.org.

Stunning Spring in Golden B.C.

Margaret Atwood once wrote, “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” In Golden, it’s impossible not to. From the wash of winter snowpack swelling creeks and rivers, to the laces of forest throughway coming alive again, dirt offers the access to every wonder the mountains hold, and this place was made for getting down in it.

On the flanks of Mount 7, Sophie-Anne Blanchette’s tires bank with practiced grip into corners packed with premium soil. The moisture in the ground is perfect, and the traction is the best it will be all season. Not a speck dust flies behind her mountain bike, kept at bay by the same water she was skiing in frozen form only weeks earlier. Sophie-Anne is part of a vanguard of new riders: hammering up to 1,200 vertical meters (4,000 feet) from town on purpose-built climbing trails to descend revitalized downhill tracks remade into sprawling enduro works, all under her own human power.

Below her the emerald green braid of the Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers are pumping flows. Spring is when rivers froth with waves and whitewater rafting is at its best. Ryan Johannesen and Carmen Narancsik know this well; they’ve been guiding people down the convulsing Kicking Horse River for over a decade with their company Glacier Rafting. Each spring, they tap the water cycle from glacier to ground to bring guests down the gravity-fed roller coaster that is one of the world’s greatest churners of H20.

Heather Mountain Lodge

Heather Mountain Lodge & Cabins, located on the edge of Glacier National Park. A perfect basecamp for adventure or luxurious escape. Just as nature intended.

1-866-344-7490 www.heathermountainlodge.com

Rafters start in the calm upper reaches of the Rockies, and are delivered over 25 kilometers (15 miles) back to Golden. The bold will finish the journey by running the lower canyon, accessed only by helicopter, and only by Glacier Rafting. While high water brings with it an adrenaline punch that’ll attract ambitious rafters and kayakers alike, it’s not mandatory to run the Kicking Horse’s lower canyon—which frames the river’s wildest waters. More gentle passage flows from its headwaters, in places only marginally more turbulent than the mellow Columbia—the Kicking Horse’s sister river (pictured left). One of the largest waterways in North America, the Columbia is a gentler flow where you’re just as likely to find swimmers and sunbathers as canoeists and SUPers on any sunny day. Not to mention trail runners and golfers, who also chase its shores, their playground equally nourished by its waters.

Set in dirt delivered to the valley floor by eons of spring flows, Golden lives in yearly celebration of these spring months, and the ever-widening smile they bring of the sun across the sky. All of these activities are available through Spring until Fall, subject to weather conditions. Plan the trip that is best for you by using the trip planner on our website.

Start planning: tourismgolden.com/life

Mistaya Lodge

Helicopter access only in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. All inclusive packages let guests enjoy guided hiking, swimming, nature watching, photography, full catering & relaxation!

1-250-344-6689 www.mistayalodge.com

1. Featuring adjustable straps and torso height, THE NORTH FACE TRAIL LITE 50 BACKPACK makes it easy to get a custom fit for maximum comfort on the trail. Storage options, including a dedicated, zippered sleeping bag compartment and a removable top help keep you organized so you can carry everything you need for multiple days on the trail. www.thenorthface.com // 2. JACK WOLFSKIN’s sustainably-made LIGHTSOME WANDER JACKET, available for men and women, keeps cool spring weather at bay. It’s windproof, water-repellent, breathable, quick-drying and boasts six pockets so you can keep your hands free. www.sportinglife.ca // 3. In the mountains, the weather can change in an instant, and so can the lighting conditions. When you pack a pair of sunglasses for a ride, wouldn’t it be nice to know they will be right in any light? JULBO DENSITY sunglasses with Reactive™ lenses perform equally well in noonday sun to nighttime, all with one lens. Find them at www.trailsports.com // 4. The ARC’TERYX BETA LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET is an all-mountain, all-season hardshell designed with a disciplined simplicity. Light, durable 40D GORETEX fabric provides waterproof, windproof protection and the helmet-compatible StormHood™ gives full coverage without impeding sightlines. Includes a RECCO® reflector to aid in search situations. www.arcteryx.ca // 5. The BLACK DIAMOND DISTANCE 15 is a hybrid pack that breaks down barriers. The design includes vest-inspired suspension for running or hiking, and combines lightweight technology with extra storage for mountain endeavours. Comes fully equipped with Z-Pole storage that’s easy to deploy on the go, and two options for strapping on your ice axe. www.vertical-addiction.com // 6. The SUNSKI TERA STONE ALPENGLOW features a classic round silhouette that takes you back to early mountaineering and vintage skiing days. Featuring magnetic side shields for extra protection against the sun and rubber nosepads for added grip. These frames will have you itching to hit the slopes or go explore your local mountain. Available at your favourite Canadian retailers: sunski.com/pages/store-locator // 7. The NEMO DAGGER OSMO LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACKING TENT is designed to balance light weight with a roomy interior for peak performance on the trail and comfortable downtime in the evenings. With two doors and two massive trapezoidal vestibules, it has more storage area and volume than any other tent in its price and weight category. www.monodsports.com // 8. Room to move without the bulk, SMARTWOOL’S WOMEN'S MOUNTAIN BIKE LONG SLEEVE JERSEY is crafted with a blend of responsiblysourced Merino wool and polyester, ensuring moisture management, temperature regulation, and quick dry times. Plus, it has a front zipper for added ventilation when you need it and extra coverage in the seat to keep the mud off yours. www.smartwool.ca //

9. The RUX WATERPROOF BAG (25L) is highly packable, super durable and ready for anything you can throw at it. This roll top waterproof tote is guaranteed for a lifetime and designed for the everyday. Ready for overland adventures or weekend getaways and everything in between. www.rux.life // 10. Bring a touch of class when you roll in with the RAMBLER BEVERAGE BUCKET — on the back deck, or at basecamp — wherever your adventures take you! Packed with ice, it holds at least a six-pack or three bottles of wine without the lid on. Also makes a great ice bucket for fireside chilling. YETI has once again over-engineered this new member of the Rambler family to keep beverages cold long into the night. www.yeti.ca

11. Weighing in at less than 100g (size M), the RAB CINDER PHANTOM JACKET is featherlight, ultra low-volume and offers waterproof protection in a tiny packed size. Its streamlined design keeps features to a minimum to reduce bulk, while the stretchy Pertex Shield fabric is breathable when you’re pedalling hard. www.rab.equipment // 12. Lightweight, waterproof, supportive, stylish—the PEDROC PRO MID PTX is everything you need for a good time on the trails, and in town. Featuring a proprietary PFC-free membrane, breathable double ripstop upper, and specialized POMOCA outsole, Salewa has you covered no matter the conditions or the coordinates. www.salewa.com // 13. Versatile and durable, the award-winning HELLY HANSEN ODIN

9 WORLDS INFINITY SHELL JACKET returns with a major tech upgrade. The waterproof/breathable LIFA Infinity membrane is engineered to give you everlasting performance without the use of chemicals. This is a win for you and the environment. www.hellyhansen.com // 14. The new G-LIGHT TRAIL E-BIKES from GasGas offer a lighter, more playful, super-agile ride. With a slightly smaller motor and battery tucked into a super-lightweight carbon frame, every crucial ounce is saved to keep this ride feeling as close to an analog MTB as possible. www.gasgas.com // 15. Lightweight and finely-tuned is the name of the game with the OSPREY 55-LITER EXOS PRO. Now a whole pound lighter than its 58-litre cousin, the Exos Pro 55 is one of the most comfortable ultralight thru-hike backpacks in its weight class. A highly-ventilated AirSpeed™ back panel maintains maximum airflow across your back, making it an especially airy choice for long-distance adventures. www.osprey.com.